Joyful Sorrow Quotes

“The hardship is the pathway to holiness. The humility is that pathway to honor.”
― Julie Busler, Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness

“We must, especially within the Church, come to terms with the reality that a person with depression doesn’t always appear sad. Mental illness can often be invisible. The one struggling might be bubbly, accomplished, and concerned about their appearance. There is this filter applied so no one can see the inner chaos that silently suffocates them under the weight of despair.”
― Julie Busler, Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness

“Her strength is what makes her so dangerous. People like her basically make themselves be strong and neglect their insides.”
― Julie Busler, Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness

“Once a toxic thought pattern has been recognized, applying the Word of God comes next. Looking at the thoughts that batter your brain through the eyes of Scripture will lead to hope in a way that therapy alone is found wanting.”
― Julie Busler, Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness

“Trials in life can harden your heart with bitterness or soften your heart with gladness, and the secret to choosing the latter is a perspective that embraces weakness for the glory of God and with the strength God’s grace gives.”
― Julie Busler, Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness

“If you have been raised to believe that showing weakness equates failure, let me tell you that in the kingdom of God, the one who embraces their weakness proclaims God’s worth through their humility. Don’t hide your weakness; please don’t waste it.”
― Julie Busler, Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness

“Through Christ, the miraculous can happen—a mentally ill mind can also be a sound mind. I’ve learned that my mind with depression and PTSD can also grasp Scripture, pursue holiness, have wisdom, and a flourishing relationship with Jesus. And yes, the medical world has helped me immensely, but only I can choose to follow the Holy Spirit’s prompting to boast in my weakness and humbly depend on God, because with “the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind” (Proverbs 11:2 AMP).”
― Julie Busler, Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness

“Always and never are the absolutes that lose sight of eternity as our feelings blind our knowledge. There is a day unbeknownst to us that the imperfect will pass away as the perfect will be ushered in for all eternity. This is good news that challenges always and never. Jesus is our hope. As a Christian, whose eternity is secured through Christ, this earth is the only hell you will ever know. Your pain has an expiration date. Your mental struggles will cease to exist.”
― Julie Busler, Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness

“In a moment of desperation, Jesus could have spoken new revelations or said nothing, but He chose the cling to the written Word as His sword in the battle. We cannot live on bread—natural means—alone. We cannot rely solely on medication or any other means that has been provided for us in the wilderness, but only by the Word of God. Jesus knew this and He lived this. So for us, what does that look like? It means getting up and opening up the Bible and reading even when we don’t feel like it or even when only a few words is the best we can do, because the Word really does transform our thinking and become our weapon in war.”
― Julie Busler, Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness